Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-08-27
CHAPTER VI.-CoNTINUED.

IL Vas now nearly I O'Clock in the morning.
and the spies reported that, after having
drunk the blood Of the oxen and eaten enor-
nous quantities Of meat, the Nasal were 60
ing To sleep round their watch fires but that
sentries had been posted at each opening Of
the kraal Fiossie, they added, was sitting
not far from the wall in the center of the
western side Of the kraal. and by her were the
nurse and the white donkey, which was teth
cred 10 peg. Her feet were bound with u
rope, and warriors We're lying about all round
her.
As there WAS absolutely nothing further
that could be done then we all took some
supper and went TO lie down for . couple Of
hours
The bed whereon i lay was near an open
window that looked on to the veranda,
through which came an extraordinary sound
Of groaning and weeping For time could
not make out what it was, but at last got
up. and putting my head out Of the window
stared about. Presently saw a dim figure
kleeling on the end Of the veranda and beat
ing his breast-in which l recognized Al
phonse Not being able to understand his
French talk or what on earth he was at,
called to him and asked him what he was
doing.
-Ah, monsieur" he sighed, II do make
prayer for the souls Of those whom l shall
slay tonight"
@Indeed,r said; @then I wish that you
would do it little more quietly"
Alphonse reiterated, and heard no more
of his gruans. And SO the time passed, till
at length Mr.. Mackenzie called me in .
whisper through the window, for Of course
everything had now to be done in the most
absolute silence. Three O'clock he said;
I'VE must begin to move at half past
told him to come in, and presently he
entered. and am bound to say that il it had
not been that just then had not got laugh
anywhere about me, should have exploded
At the sight he presented armed for battle.
To begin with. he had on . ciergyman's black
swallow tail and q kind Of broad trimmed
black felt hat, both Of which he had donned
on account. he said, Of their dark color. In
his hand was the Winchester repeating rife
we had lent him; and stuck in an elastic
cricketing belt, like those worn by English
boys, were. first, q huge buckhJrn handled
carving knife with . guard to it, and next .
long barreled Colts revolver.
-Ah, my friend he said, seeing me soaring
at his belt, you are looking at my carver
l thought it might come In handy IL We came
many is the pig have killed with IL"
By this time everybody was up and drsD-
ing. Iput on . light Norfolk jacket over
my mail shirt, in order to have . pocket
handy to hold my cartridges, and buckled on
my revolver. Good did the same; but Sir
Henry put on nothing except his mail shirt,
steel lined cap and pair Of -veldtschoons"
or soft hide shoss, his legs being bare from
the knees down His revolver be strapped
on round his middle outside the armored
ahirt-
Meanwhile Umsiopogaas was mastering |
the men in the square under the big tree, and |
going the rounds to see that each was |
properly armed, etc. At the last moment We |
made one change. Finding that two Of the |
men who were to have gone with the firing
parties knew little or nothing Of guns, but
Were good spearsmen, We took away their
rifles, supplied them with shields and long
spears Of the Nasal pattern, and told them
of to join Curtis, Umslopogaas and the
Askari in holding the wide openins-it hav-
ing become clear to US that three men, how
ever brave and strong, were too few for the
work.